Young movie makers take centre stage

Seven climate change themed short films made by primary school children in the Cairngorms National Park will get their premiere in Aboyne tomorrow (Saturday 26 September 2009) at the Deeside Community Centre.

The screening will bring pupils, parents, teachers and partners together from all parts of the National Park to share the films and celebrate the culmination of an exciting project which has widespread relevance on how climate change will impact on the Cairngorms National Park and how people can adapt to those impacts.

Topics as diverse as moorlands, biodiversity and energy to forestry, tourism, flooding and transport have been tackled by the young people who received expert tuition from climate change scientists, local business representatives and other organisations. Aberdeenshire Council’s Media Unit also co-ordinated a training programme in documentary film production and worked with each school to produce the short film.

Funding for the project was provided by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and Clim-ATIC – a 2.4million Euro, three-year, multi-agency partnership.

Clive Bowman from Clim-ATIC said: “The young people took a very hands-on, proactive approach to their filming by going out into their communities to investigate the climate change issues that are most relevant to them.

“We now hope to use the films to better inform policy makers and others of the threats posed by climate change and also inspire them to think about the opportunities available to them. Presenting this information through the eyes of young people and using the medium of film in this way will hopefully help to create some powerful messages.”

CNPA deputy convener Eric Baird will present the youngsters with their movie maker certificates tomorrow. He said: “This project is helping to raise awareness in young people of both the threats posed by climate change and the special qualities of the National Park. It is also providing them and their teachers with new skills.”

Robin Palmer, of Aberdeenshire Council’s Media Unit added: “We always enjoy working with the CNPA to deliver the schools media project. One of our key aims at the Media Unit is to broaden access to moving image education and participation in film making by young people. Making a film in the classroom is a good medium to develop and engage with the Curriculum for Excellence.”

The film making project is one of a number of initiatives from Clim-ATIC – a first of its kind European project that will see the Cairngorms National Park trial a number of exciting projects adapting to the impacts of climate change. The CNPA, UHI Millennium Institute, Forestry Commission Scotland and a number of other European organisations support Clim-ATIC as well as the European Commission’s Northern Periphery Programme.